# Best Online Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-08-03 | Schools: 50 | Category: Online Bachelors
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-bachelors-mechanical-engineering

## Methodology

Online bachelor's programs ranked by outcomes, online quality, and program presence in Engineering

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

When considering an online bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, students are often drawn to programs that promise strong career outcomes and flexibility in learning. With an average earning potential of $67,252 for graduates in this field, choosing the right program is crucial for long-term success. This list highlights institutions that excel in providing quality online education while preparing students for rewarding careers.

The strongest programs stand out not just for their academic rigor but also for their impressive outcomes. Metrics like graduation rates, earnings, and student debt help frame the picture of what each school offers. For example, Georgia Institute of Technology leads with a remarkable 93% graduation rate and an average earning potential of $102,772, highlighting the connection between educational quality and post-graduate success.

Take Georgia Tech and Northeastern University as an example. While Georgia Tech graduates earn an average of $102,772, Northeastern's graduates bring home $92,538. However, a closer look reveals that Northeastern has a higher net price at $30,915 compared to Georgia Tech's $12,116. This contrast in earnings and costs helps prospective students understand the trade-offs involved in their choices.

## Key Findings

- Georgia Institute of Technology graduates earn an average of $102,772, the highest on this list.
- Johns Hopkins University has a graduation rate of 94%, the highest among these top programs.
- The average net price for a degree at the University of Florida is just $6,541, making it the most affordable option in the top five.
- Northeastern University has the highest average debt at $24,250, which may impact long-term financial planning.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-worldwide) | Daytona Beach, FL | 21% | $84,131 | $18,725 | $23,666 | 0.28x |
| 2 | [Western Governors University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/western-governors-university) | Salt Lake City, UT | 48% | $60,615 | $12,548 | $11,116 | 0.18x |
| 3 | [Grand Canyon University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/grand-canyon-university) | Phoenix, AZ | 43% | $42,186 | $22,472 | $22,114 | 0.52x |
| 4 | [Pennsylvania State University-World Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pennsylvania-state-university-world-campus) | University Park, PA | 34% | $63,435 | $19,550 | $25,000 | 0.39x |
| 5 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |
| 6 | [National University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-university) | San Diego, CA | 42% | $67,548 | $22,878 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 7 | [Arizona State University Digital Immersion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arizona-state-university-digital-immersion) | Scottsdale, AZ | 29% | $62,668 | N/A | $19,500 | 0.31x |
| 8 | [Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-institute-of-technology-college-of-professional-studies) | Fort Wayne, IN | 28% | $47,327 | $20,473 | $26,391 | 0.56x |
| 9 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-leo-university) | Saint Leo, FL | 47% | $48,364 | $21,293 | $25,278 | 0.52x |
| 10 | [Capitol Technology University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/capitol-technology-university) | Laurel, MD | 44% | $85,035 | $22,102 | $20,264 | 0.24x |
| 11 | [Lamar University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lamar-university) | Beaumont, TX | 37% | $49,652 | $9,366 | $21,250 | 0.43x |
| 12 | [Wilkes University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wilkes-university) | Wilkes-Barre, PA | 62% | $63,454 | $27,743 | $26,000 | 0.41x |
| 13 | [Spring Arbor University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/spring-arbor-university) | Spring Arbor, MI | 61% | $51,732 | $19,353 | $26,375 | 0.51x |
| 14 | [McMurry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mcmurry-university) | Abilene, TX | 41% | $48,779 | $19,581 | $27,000 | 0.55x |
| 15 | [SUNY College of Technology at Canton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-of-technology-at-canton) | Canton, NY | 41% | $47,860 | $15,268 | $20,000 | 0.42x |
| 16 | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus) | Atlanta, GA | 93% | $102,772 | $12,116 | $21,672 | 0.21x |
| 17 | [Central State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-state-university) | Wilberforce, OH | 24% | $33,267 | $13,096 | $30,739 | 0.92x |
| 18 | [Arkansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university) | Jonesboro, AR | 55% | $42,617 | $12,366 | $20,500 | 0.48x |
| 19 | [The University of Texas Permian Basin](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-permian-basin) | Odessa, TX | 42% | $56,073 | $12,723 | $17,750 | 0.32x |
| 20 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 21 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 22 | [Regent University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regent-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 56% | $44,498 | $19,923 | $24,534 | 0.55x |
| 23 | [Carolina University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/carolina-university) | Winston-Salem, NC | 24% | $32,864 | $20,828 | $20,287 | 0.62x |
| 24 | [Colorado Christian University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colorado-christian-university) | Lakewood, CO | 60% | $50,416 | $29,500 | $28,312 | 0.56x |
| 25 | [Mount Vernon Nazarene University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mount-vernon-nazarene-university) | Mount Vernon, OH | 66% | $49,555 | $22,421 | $25,000 | 0.5x |
| 26 | [University of North Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-dakota) | Grand Forks, ND | 62% | $63,552 | $18,551 | $22,057 | 0.35x |
| 27 | [Oral Roberts University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oral-roberts-university) | Tulsa, OK | 56% | $46,885 | $25,365 | $27,000 | 0.58x |
| 28 | [Southern Utah University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-utah-university) | Cedar City, UT | 60% | $50,296 | $10,462 | $12,500 | 0.25x |
| 29 | [LeTourneau University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/letourneau-university) | Longview, TX | 60% | $57,103 | $28,185 | $26,000 | 0.46x |
| 30 | [Siena Heights University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/siena-heights-university) | Adrian, MI | 45% | $57,529 | $17,124 | $18,750 | 0.33x |
| 31 | [Concordia University-Irvine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/concordia-university-irvine) | Irvine, CA | 60% | $65,083 | $28,115 | $24,247 | 0.37x |
| 32 | [Oregon State University-Cascades Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oregon-state-university-cascades-campus) | Bend, OR | 54% | $64,010 | $18,048 | $21,221 | 0.33x |
| 33 | [University of South Dakota](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-dakota) | Vermillion, SD | 61% | $51,926 | $19,858 | $23,592 | 0.45x |
| 34 | [East Texas A&M University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-texas-am-university) | Commerce, TX | 44% | $50,296 | $11,841 | $20,500 | 0.41x |
| 35 | [Old Dominion University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/old-dominion-university) | Norfolk, VA | 45% | $54,914 | $14,638 | $24,000 | 0.44x |
| 36 | [Florida Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-institute-of-technology) | Melbourne, FL | 64% | $43,137 | $35,639 | $27,000 | 0.63x |
| 37 | [University of Arkansas at Little Rock](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-little-rock) | Little Rock, AR | 42% | $45,265 | $17,248 | $22,000 | 0.49x |
| 38 | [Oregon State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/oregon-state-university) | Corvallis, OR | 70% | $64,010 | $19,604 | $21,221 | 0.33x |
| 39 | [University of Minnesota-Crookston](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-minnesota-crookston) | Crookston, MN | 50% | $58,056 | $12,212 | $20,500 | 0.35x |
| 40 | [Northwestern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwestern-college) | Orange City, IA | 65% | $49,802 | $25,907 | $23,249 | 0.47x |
| 41 | [Whittier College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/whittier-college) | Whittier, CA | 62% | $59,492 | $25,757 | $24,937 | 0.42x |
| 42 | [Point Park University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/point-park-university) | Pittsburgh, PA | 59% | $45,856 | $25,942 | $27,000 | 0.59x |
| 43 | [The University of Texas at Arlington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-texas-at-arlington) | Arlington, TX | 55% | $63,199 | $13,951 | $17,527 | 0.28x |
| 44 | [Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/indiana-wesleyan-university-marion) | Marion, IN | 67% | $59,986 | $22,866 | $24,250 | 0.4x |
| 45 | [Jackson State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/jackson-state-university) | Jackson, MS | 41% | $39,060 | $23,836 | $30,470 | 0.78x |
| 46 | [University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-alaska-fairbanks) | Fairbanks, AK | 35% | $48,866 | $10,892 | $20,291 | 0.42x |
| 47 | [Harvard University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harvard-university) | Cambridge, MA | 97% | $101,817 | $19,066 | $14,000 | 0.14x |
| 48 | [West Virginia University Institute of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/west-virginia-university-institute-of-technology) | Beckley, WV | 34% | $55,939 | $9,337 | $22,500 | 0.4x |
| 49 | [Muskingum University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/muskingum-university) | New Concord, OH | 55% | $48,440 | $19,532 | $25,369 | 0.52x |
| 50 | [University of Northwestern-St Paul](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-northwestern-st-paul) | Saint Paul, MN | 68% | $50,755 | $27,705 | $21,325 | 0.42x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Online Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-08-03. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-online-bachelors-mechanical-engineering

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.